Traffic-signal for vehicles



R. L. ATWELL.

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TRAFFIC SIGNAL FOR VEHICLES.

APPucATmN msn MAY 24,1919.

Patented Aug. 31,1920.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TRAFFIC-SIGNAL FR VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 31, 1920.

Application filed May 24, 1919. Serial No. 299,419A

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, Bonnin' citizen of theUnited States, residin r at loit, in the county of Hock and State .ofWisconsin, have invented new and useiul Improvements in TraliieSignalsfor Vehicles, of which the following tion.

This invention relates to traflic signals and especially signals whichare adapted to be mounted upon an automobile. motor truck or other motorpropollul vehicle and by means of which the operators ot other Cars asW'll as trali'u: policemen and pedos4 trians may be advised to anychange in the direction of the vehicle vontemplatml by the operatorthereof without the news sity of the operator extending his arm forthatpurpose thereby enabling him to use both arms and hands in the controlof the machine.

The invention contemplates theuse of a pointer or indicator for thedirection in which the car is to be operated. which pointer isilluminated so that it may be used after night-fall well during thedaytime, combined with means for swinging said arm in vertical planeeither in line with the path of travel of the machine or in a planetransverse to the direction of movement of the mruhine. thereby enablingthe arrow to indicate exactly the direction to be followed by themachine.

A further object in View is to provide a traffic Si nal the severalparts of which may be readi y applied to any machine either at the timeof manufacture thereof or at any time subsequent thereto.

With the above and other objects in View. the invention consists in thenovel construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein fullydescribed, illustrated and. claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved traffic signal shown in its. all-plied relation to a motorvehiclei Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section through theindicator or traffic signal oper ating means.

Fig, 3 is a plan View of the cam rod.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation of the rack and pinion transmissionmechanism.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a rear elevation showmg'the vertieal position of the pointerin full lines and the right and left hand positions tlercof in dottedlines.

Fig. 8 is a face view of the pointer or inldieator.

Fig. 9 i5 a longitudinal section through the saine.

Fig. l() is a plan view of the operating lever mounted ou the head ofthe steering oar.

Fig. 1l is a plan view of the graduated sector.

The trafiic signal comprises a signaling arm or pointer l which is shownin the form of an arrow of hollow formation, comprising rear and frontwalls 2 and 3 and side walls 4, the fare wall of the pointer beingcomposed of glass or other translucent material so as to be visibleafter night-fall when interior-ly illuminated by means of electric lampsor bulbs 5 which are disposed at intervals throughout the length of theburner and within the base or hub portion thereoiz as shown in thedrawing, the wires leading to said lamps or bulbs passing through anopening (i in the body of the arm or pointer as shown The pointer or arml is mounted upon an oscillatory or partially rotatable support or hub 7having a journal H which is mounted rotatably in u bearing t) carried byan arm 10 supported in a manner hereinafter particularly described, thehub or support 7 being mounted between the arm l0 and another arm ll,the latter being employed for imparting a partial rotary or rockingmovenient to the support 7 as will hereinafter appear.

`he arm 11 is connected integrally to or suitably fastened in fixedrelation to a rotaitable cam rod 12 which is journaled in a mainsupporting bearing 1B, having an attaching base 14 by inuaiis of whichit is fixedlysecured to the vehicle. The cam rod 12 has a cam groove 14extending longitudinally thereof and comprising a straight longitudinalportion 15 and inclined portion 16 leading ofi therefrom, and areversely inclined portion 17 of greater extent than the inclinedportion 16. The cam roove 14Jis engaged byl a pin 18 having a Xedconnection `with the stationary bearing 13, whereb as said cam rod isshifted longitudinally tli'rough the bearing 13, a partial rotativemovement is imparted thereto first in one direction and then in theopposite direction. The longitudinal portion 15 of the cam roove ermitsthe cam rod to be shifted on itudinally to a certain extent or degreewithout any turning movement of said earn rod.

The arm lll is provided at its inner end with u sleeve lo having one ormore grooves 19 to receive a corresponding number of keys or ribs 2() onthe arm 11 where it passes through said sleeve 18a. The sleeve 18" isprovided with annular grooves`21 having spiral portions 22 which openout at the inner.end of the sleeve and working in the grooves 2l are theinturned end portions 22 of a pair of vokes or studs zll which areadjustably secured by means of nuts Z1 and 25 to oppositely extendinglugs 26 on the fixed or stationary bearings 3l. The mem bers 23 thusserve to prevent any movement of the sleeve 1H longitudinally withrespect to the axis of the bearing member 13 whilc the longitudinalportion l5 of tht4 cam groove is moving along the pin 18. lVhen however,the pin 18 enters and moves along the inclined portions of the camgroove, the sleeve 1S is partially rotated until the mem- -bers 255 passout of engagement therewith and release the sleeve lf'r.

The cam rod 12 is formed with a bore 27 which receives an operating pushrod Q8 adjustable in the bore 2T to provide for properly adjusting thetraliic operating mechanism in relation to the motor vehicle upon whichit is mounted. The push rod 28 may he connected by any suitable meanssuch as a lever or link to an operating shaft 257 extending upwardlythrough the steering cohnnn J-Wof the machine and having secured to itsz ipper end an operating lever 3l designed to sweep over an arcuategraduated plate or sector 32 having suitable cmblems thereon todesignate such direction as left, right` turn and stop as maybe founddesirable by the manufacturer. lt will now he understood that byoperating theV lever 3l, the push'rod 28 is moved longitlulinallythereby imparting a correspoiuling movement to the cam rod 12` causingtlie latter to slide through the bearing 13 and causing the cam grooveof said rod to engage the fixed pin 13, thus imparting a partial rotarymovement to thecam roil during the longitudinal movement thereof.

Normally the signal arm or pointer 1 lies in a horizontal plane pointingill a straight forward direction or in a direction of travel of themachine. lnythe initial rearward movement of the cam rod, the straightportion 15 .of the cam groove engages the in 18 so that said cam rod isnot rotated iut moved rearwardly, carrying with it the arm 11. Said arm11 is provided with a rack face 33 which engages a gea-r face 34 on a'short stub shaft or journal 35 extending from the ad'aeent edge of thesupport or hub 7 above escribed. As a result a partial rotative movementis imparted to the support 7, causing the pointer or indicating arm totravel through an a rc of ninety degrees or from a straight forwardhorizontal polsition to an upright position, said arm or indicatormoving in a vertical planeA in line with the direction of movement ofthe ve hicle. In the further rearward movement of the cam rod 12 the pin1S engages the inclined portion 16 of the cam slot or groove therebyimparting a partial rotative movement to the arm 11 and turning theindicator or pointer to an are of ninety degrees so lthat it occupies ahorizontal position and points laterally to one side of the machine. luthe further rearward movement of the cam rod 12, the pin 18 engages thelonger and reversely inclined portion l of the cam groove and therebyturns the signaling arm or pointer to an are of 180 degrees So that saidarm occupies horizontal position pointing directly toward the oppositeside of 'the machine. lly returning the lever 31 to its initialposition` the movements hereinabove described are reversed and theindicating arm or pointer is returned to its normal position in which itpointsstraight forward and lies in a horizontal p'lane! In Fig. l of thedrawing, l have illus trated the indicator arm or pointer as mounted andarranged to operate at the rear of the motor vehicle but it will ofcourse be apparent that said signaling arm or pointer may be arranged atthe front of the vehicle or in any other desired position, the mainfeature of the invention residing in the means for swinging saidindicating arm or pointer in a plurality of vertical planes s0 that itmay be disposed in several positions to indicate clearly andunmistakably the direction in which the vehicle is about to travel. Thisis a great assistance to the` drivers of other vehicles especiall')Ithose traveling in rear of the vehicleequipped with the signalingapparatus and the mechanism is also useful to traffic policemen andpedestrians as they serve to advise the trailic in general as to theintended movement of the vehicle. The motion transmitting means betweenthe initial operating lever 21 and the push rod 28 ma be varied inaccordance with the type of ve iele in conjunction with which thetraffic signal is to be used, for example electrical means may beemployed .and I therefore do not desire to be restricted to anyparticular form of operating connection for that purpose. 1t will alsobe apparent that the particular means for imparting a partial rotativemovement to the support 7 may be varied without departing from theprineiple nl' the invention as other nii-uns than the rack and pinionmechanism shown and described may be resorted to.

The train(- signal eliminates the necessity of ille operator using: thearm to signal the limotion in wliirli lic is about to iurn therebyleaving; his arms nmllmnrls free to manipulaiic. the control of thenim'liine. The mechanism is not only simple Init is strong nml re liablein volvingr no delicate parts liable to get ont of order and thereforeit is able to stand the strains of rough usage, especeinlly adapted toall` types of commercial ears whether iis-eci for pleasure or industrialuse.

That 1 claim is 1. In i1 vehicle carrier] traffic signal, a signalsupporting member, a. direction indifating and pointing member ha vingan articulated connection with said supporting member adapting it to beswung in s vertical plaine in line with the direction of movement of thevehicle and also in a vertical plane et substantially a right angle totile direction of movement of the Vehicle, und means for swinging saiddirection indiu eating mem'lier in either of said. verticali plaines,the last named, means: comprising: u roclmblc element by which saidincliiiting member is married, including n push rod geared io sanilockable dement, and means including s snm clei'iee 'for ro ing saideieinem. on en axis sniismntiziily :it e righi :ingle in ifs mejor mili,sind e munuiiily operable element conirolling boil; oi the lest namedinnert.

i2. lil .fi ieliiffie cnrrieil irnilio si nl, :i signi-di sizn.oi.iin;member, u iiiifecmnn in iicfiting unf] pointing niemiier having' un:ii'iimalsiieii renne i'ion wiiii seid supporting member niiniing' it toiie swung; in :i vertir'ni. mine in line 'with time i Cioli ofInoveineilt oi iin iiirle :mijl nino in a vertical dini-div n righi::ingle tio riie n'errv'ei'i'zezi of iiie Vehicle, :mii meses im*swinging nifl iiiieoion indi #.iing: iii-inner in either fr? saniveriiual pinnen iziiv minier! means fnlvising' e. iiwfla-.ihic cienwntby wiiieii s, indicating meniiwr is vari d, ineens im roffking seidnieuwe! mi the maior axis. :in erm support ing im@ nini of said elementand adapte to turn the same end for end, and another arm zulnpteil toturn said element on its major axis.

3. In. a vehicle carried traic signal, a signal supporting member, ndirection indi-I cating inni pointing member havingr :in a1- ticnluteilvonncotion with said supporting member adapting it to be swung in nvertical plane in line with the direction of movement of the vehicle andalso in a. vertical plane ai substantially a right angle to thedirection of movement of the vehicle, and means for swinging seiddirection indicating memin either of said vertical planes, the lastnamed means comprisin a rockgible element by which snirl indicatingmember is carried, means for rocking said element on the major axis, anarm supporting one end of said element and adapted to turn the same endfor end, and another arm adapted to turn said element on its major axis,and a single manually operable element con trolling both of said arms. x

4. A sigiml device for Vehicles comprising n support adapted to besecured upon a vehicle, :i member slidnble :mil rotatable through ,annisupport, an arm Carried by :aid member mil having rack teeth thereon, :ibracket :n'rn having slidnlile connection with sniil member, a pointerhaving a. hub orti-Jil ionrnnleii in the free emi of seid infnckct firm,mui n pinion extending from liiili :mil inceliingr with sind rank.

which? vermeil signal comprising' si enpjiori adapted o be eecureci upondv vehicle anni ii. ring si. here. n. rml sliialnle :mil roi'nnfile,'Jiliin said bore :imi having a nam groove, u pin witiiin ille boreengaging within the groeve, an firm secured to nml iroiecing from oneend oi sniil rml. und iormezi with ruck ieciln n bracketaim having onee-ini 'formell to sliiliibly reizeive said ruim :n1-1l' having spire!grooves, yokes projecting from sani support. :mil haring angular envieengaging within .seid spi ail grooves. n, minier having i heb memberji'inrneled ai; one enti in rile 'free end of said bracket: een, :miipinion at the other end if said .in il portion meshing: with said reci(teeiii In testimony whereof i niiix mj :einem me.

ROBERT L. A T'JJ.

